Passaic County man receives award of $25K for program to feed the hungry

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerGary Oppenheimer of West Milford checks on the growth of eggplants in his garden in this file photo.

PASSAIC COUNTY — A Passaic County man has been recognized for his innovation and awarded $25,000 for his program to help feed the hungry.

Gary Oppenheimer of West Milford, founder and executive director of AmpleHarvest.org, is one of three entrepreneurs honored by the Elfenworks Foundation, an organization based ni Burlingame, CA., that highlights issues it feels are not effectively addressed.

AmpleHarvest.org, a nonprofit organization that has been commended by Michelle Obama, began in 2009. It is one of those ideas that, in retrospect, seems so simple it is hard to believe no one thought of it before.

The site helps and encourages home gardeners to share their excess produce with a local food pantry. In three years, AmpleHarvest.org has enrolled more than 5,000 pantries in all 50 states. and helped match several million pounds of food with the hungry.

The United States wastes a staggering amount of food. In 2010, more than 30 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"We have an immense amount of food left to rot that could be going to the community," Oppenheimer said, "but growers don’t know they can donate."

Oppenheimer said he will use the $25,000 to expand his program’s reach, hire staff to help connect more food pantries with local growers in their areas.

"Only one out of seven (pantries) know they can receive food from growers," he said. "We’re looking to build bridges and connect people. Our vision for ‘No Food Left Behind’ is to have America’s 40-plus million home gardeners become heroes in their own community, ultimately changing both the health and the wealth of the nation."

Oppenheimer, 59, said as a kid he was always told to finish what was on his plate. That ethos stuck into adulthood. In 2009, he was executive director of West Milford community gardens and there was an excess of produce. He tried to find a local food pantry to donate to, but could not. That’s how AmpleHarvest.org was born. In the first 150 days, he had registered 1,000 pantries.

The other two winners are Rafael Alvarez, of Houston, Tx., and Maurice Lim Miller, of Oakland. Ca.

Alvarez created Genesys Works, a program that provides a summer workshop for high school students in communication skills and technical training. During the school year, these students are placed in Fortune 500 corporations to practice their new-found skills. The program operates in Houston, Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Lim Miller, created Family Independence Initiative, which aims to empower and educate low-income families to make better and more cost-effective decisions.

"Elfenworks is identifying issues that aren’t being addressed in our country," said Lauren Speeth, Elfenworks Founder and CEO in a press release announcing the awards. "Each honoree has shown profound achievement with programs that help vulnerable individuals overcome daunting barriers and lead happier, healthier lives."